FOOD SECURITY: FEC APPROVES PROCUREMENT OF 2000 TRACTORS, 1200 TRAILERS
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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has announced the approval of 2,000 tractors, 4,000 disc ploughs, and 1,200 tractor trailers, among other equipment, under the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) in an effort to promote food security in Nigeria.
The equipment will be supplied by the DMCC firm, which also plans to set up assembling plans for some of this equipment in the country, according to a statement made on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on X. The statement also outlined the outcomes of the FEC meeting in Abuja.
He said, “Procurement of 2000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers and assorted spare parts. The items to be supplied are for the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme(NAMP) to strengthen national food security.
“Astride DMCC, which has done a similar job in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Togo, will supply all the equipment and will also set up a plant to assemble the machinery, in the second stage of the contract.”
In addition, the federal government said it will engage stakeholders to get a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for commodities, ramp up production, especially among smallholder farmers in the 2024/2025 farming season, promote of production of fortified food commodities and others.
This development coincides with Nigeria’s ongoing battle with a crisis of food security, with food inflation standing at 40.5% and households there finding it difficult to support their families.
In addition, the cost of basic consumables, particularly grains, has increased by more than 100% during the previous 12 months.
The federal government has announced intentions to buy food supplies valued at ₦155 billion to be distributed nationwide and to share ₦50,000 to 100,000 households among the 36 states of the nation for three months.
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